After two women are found dead in a rural community, a detective arrives from the big city to help out. Things quickly mushroom with the discovery of more bodies, more suspects and no end in sight.

Whether you like police films or not you should see this movie about the real hunt for Korea's first known serial killer simply because its a great movie. This is a movie that alters your expectations and changes your view of things. Its impossible to guess whats going to happen simply because the twists and turns are so unexpected. At times this is a funny funny movie, especially if you like shows like Law and Order or CSI since what we take for granted in those shows is stood on its head. At other times this is a very taut thriller and you become as desperate as the police in needing to put an end to the madness.

On top of all of this is a picture of Korea in 1986, a place with political unrest and civil defense drills that for me at least makes it seem like something out of the 1950's.

This is brilliant brilliant film-making.

I've given the film an 8 out of 10, even though it probably deserves to be higher, simply because some 12 hours after seeing the film, I'm still pondering what I thought of it, how good is it? At least an 8. I'm sure a second and third and fourth viewings will change my mind.

Yea its that good

MEMORIES OF MURDER is much more than just another serial killer story; this South Korean thriller is a movie of real depth, a genre-transcending tale that shines a light on social and political issues as well as presenting that country's police force in a typically unflattering light. The main story of the tale is also interesting, as is the complex back story, and although slow-paced this is one of those films that creeps up on you to become gripping by the end. Song Kang-ho leads a great cast, but the real star here is director Bong Joon Ho, who followed this up with the equally great THE HOST and SNOWPIERCER.

It's 1986 in South Korea. Women's bodies are being found tied up. Detective Park Doo-Man is the local cop tasked to find the killer. He's a bumpkin and a brute with a slightly better sense than his other co-workers. The local force proves to be inept at such a big case. The locals coach a weak minded idiot to confess. Detective Seo Tae-yoon comes from Seoul to assist them. He suspects a missing girl is the third murder victim and they find her in the field.

This is a funny serial killer police procedural. It's a rare thing to have both the gritty brutality and the comedic aspects. Park's foolishness is funny at time but also very dark. It helps to break up the usual the grotesque serial killer movie. The mystery goes slowly sometimes as Park bungle him way interrogating one wrong suspect after another. It would be helpful to tighten up the over 2 hours running time to speed up some of the slower spots. However this is still a fascinating mix of dark humor and grotesque violence.